WATCH: Man Arrested by Titusville Police After Stealing Vehicle From Mother Preparing Her Kids For First Day of School
By Space Coast Daily // August 8, 2022
Santiago Junior Pena from Daytona Beach Arrested Monday morning
ABOVE VIDEO: Arrest Made in Mother’s Stolen Vehicle Incident
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – Titusville Police have arrested a local man who stole a vehicle from a mother Monday morning who was preparing to load her kids into the car ahead of their first day of school.
The preliminary investigation revealed at approximately 7:30 a.m., the victim was attempting to load her young children into her vehicle in the driveway near the 1400 block of Barna Ave. in anticipation for the first day of school, when an unidentified man dropped his bicycle, jumped into her 2013 white Kia Soul without permission and speed away.
Officers responded to the mother’s urgent call to 911 for help.
Within minutes, officers identified the stolen vehicle near the intersection of Cheney Highway and Barna Avenue.
“A traffic stopped was initiated by police. The suspect did not comply and fled driving at high speeds and recklessly, ultimately crashing the stolen vehicle and fleeing the scene on foot,” said Amy Matthews of the Titusville Police Department.
“A perimeter was established and the suspect was taken into custody by law enforcement in a wooded area near the 3500 block of Cheney Highway at approximately 8:30 a.m..”
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Santiago Junior Pena, of Daytona Beach.
Pena was charged with, Grand Theft, Fleeing and Eluding Law Enforcement, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Damage, Driving with a Suspended License with Knowledge, Reckless Driving and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
“This crime against a mother and her children will not be tolerated in our city,” said Criminal Investigations Sergeant Timothy Werring.
“Our vigilant officers worked skillfully and urgently to take this criminal into custody,” added Werring.
